Top 10 Most Abused Drugs And Their Effects

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With the advent of modern techniques and advancement in medical field many new drugs have been manufactured for the treatment of individuals. The main purpose of the drug is to cure a disease but people use some drugs for their recreational purposes. Drug abuse is a very common and highlighting issue in most of the countries in now days. Here is the list of top 10 most abused drugs and their effects on the people. It is illegal to use these drugs without medical advice just for fun and enjoyment.

10. Psilocybin Mushrooms

Psilocybin Mushrooms also named as psychedelic mushrooms and informally are known as magic mushrooms and shrooms contain psychoactive indole alkaloids. Because of their psychedelic effects they are used for recreational purposes in modern Western society. Evidences have shown the use of the drug since prehistoric times and it has been used by many cultures for religion rites. Using Psilocybin Mushrooms will take you in a different world.

9. Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is also known as lysergide and informally as acid. It is a semisynthetic psychedelic drug that is renowned for its psychological effects. It is mainly used as an entheogan and recreational drug. It is non addictive and has extremely low toxicity comparative to its dose. This drug has been used in the treatment of pain, alcoholism, relief of cluster headache, for meditation and spiritual purposes because of its recognized therapeutic value. It effects may vary from user to user. It causes a significant change in the life of people using it.

8. Phencyclidine (PCP)

Phencyclidine whose abbreviation is PCP is a narcotic drug and is informally known as angle dust, wet or illy. It is a drug that shows hallucinogenic properties and was formerly used as an anesthetic agent. If taken as a recreational drug it can be inhaled, ingested or smoked.

It is available in both powder and liquid form and is typically available by sprayed on the leafy materials like mint, marijuana, oregano, or Ginger leaves. Its behavioral effects depend on the dosage and may vary in individuals, its psychological effects include euphoria, hallucinations, paranoia, suicidal impulses and aggressive attitude. The alteration in mood due to this drug is in unpredictable manner causing some people to be detached and some to be animated.

7. Opium

Opium is the dried latex that is derived from the seed pods of opium. Its active ingredients are morphine and codeine. The most important and widespread alkaloid in it is morphine and comprises of almost 10%-16% of total therefore acting in the same way as morphine. Morphine in adequate quantity is used as an analgesic in medical field. For illegal use of opium it is converted into heroine that is less bulky and makes it easy to smuggle and also has increased potency as compared to morphine.

6. Marijuana

Cannabis is also known as Marijuana and has also various other names. Marijuana is prepared from the Cannabis plant and is designed to use as a medicine and a psychoactive drug. The main psychoactive ingredient of cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol. This drug has numerous physiological and psychological effects. The psychoactive effects include euphoria, increase in appetite and relaxation. While it’s unwanted adverse effects include impaired motor skills, dry mouth, short term memory and anxiety. It is the most ancient medicinal drug that is used for recreational purposes or for spiritual or religious rites. According to United Nations it is the most illegal drug in the world. It is either ingested or smoked. In order to get intense euphoria people may consume poisonous quantities of this drug.

5. Crack Cocaine

Crack cocaine is one of the most abused drugs in the world, it is also referred as Crack. It became famous in early 1980’s and is known as the most addictive form of cocaine, it creates short but intense euphoria in its smokers. Crack cocaine affects the brain chemistry, releasing large amount of dopamine and causes a state of euphoria, increased energy, insomnia, alertness and more craving for the drug. Excessive use of this drug in high doses may cause a state of restlessness, paranoia and state of increased irritability.

4. Ecstasy

Ecstasy also known as MDMA or Methylenedioxymethamphetamine is a synthetic, psychoactive drug that is chemically same as to the hallucinogen mescaline and stimulant methamphetamine. It is one of the most extensively used recreational drugs in the world. It has numerous effects on the human body and brain, causing release of dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine it can cause the state of euphoria, an increased awareness of the senses and an increased appreciation of music and movement while its side effects include insomnia, nausea, seizures increased body temperature. Ecstasy can be dangerous to human health and sometime can be lethal as one person dies out of every million ecstasy users. Under United Nations agreement it is an illegal drug and its formation and processing is against the law.

3. Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine is one of the psychoactive drugs that are sympathomimetic in nature. It enters the brain and triggers an overflow release of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, stimulating the mesolimbic pathway in the brain it causes a state of excitement and euphoria. Its effects include increased energy and alertness and improved self esteem. Its high doses may cause mania, delusions and hallucinations and it has a high probability for addiction and abuse. Its withdrawal symptoms include, fatigue, increased appetite, anxiety, irritability and depression.

2. Cocaine

Cocaine is a crystalline alkaloid that is derived from the leaves of the coca plant. It is a CNS stimulant, an appetite suppressant and a nonspecific sodium channel blocker. It acts as serotonin –norepinephrine- dopamine reuptake inhibitor also recognized as triple reuptake inhibitor. Because of its effect on mesolimbic reward pathway that is a dopaminergic pathway in the brain, it is addictive in nature. It is distinctly more dangerous as compared to others central nervous system stimulants. It can cross the blood brain barrier more efficiently as compared to other psychoactive chemicals and can cause breakdown of blood brain barrier. As a CNS stimulant it causes an increase in adrenaline level in your blood circulation and creates a state of euphoria. The high adrenaline level causes increased alertness, increased energy, increased motor activity and is often also abused by sportsmen.

1. Heroin

Heroin is an opioid derivative that is also known as diamorphine and informally as H, horse, brown, black, smack, tar, has other names too. Its white crystalline form is known as pure heroin. Heroin is the most widely abused drug in the world. Originally, this drug was created to treat people having morphine addiction. It is an opioid analgesic and in medical field it is used for the treatment of severe pain that may be due to some severe trauma, post surgical pain or a disease like heart attack.

The most commonly route of administration of this drug is through intra venous injection. After injecting it immediately enters the circulatory system and mixes with blood. From the blood it reaches the brain and after crossing the blood brain barrier it is converted into morphine that imitate the affects of endorphin hormone, giving you the sense of pleasure, a state of euphoria that is known as extreme happiness.